Something needs to be done.

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Boffin

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Something needs to be done regarding all these new members that post threads that have already been made. Recent efforts came from Rampresin and this new user ericdemoryGT. There are many others like them and they aren't getting the hint that the topics they post have been discussed over and over again.

I think I know why. When one signs up to GTP, they tick a box saying they accept the AUP - much like one accepts the terms and agreements when trying to load a computer game. They don't read them, but they get the jist. Seeing that this forum is different from most others in the way that we are more ordered and show more respect to one another, these new people just don't adjust in time before they are banned for not following the AUP.

While they do make useless threads, and show complete disregard for the search function or other user's intelligence (eg ericdemoryGT asking us what we liked about the music more than 4 YEARS after the thing was released), I feel that they have a potential to make helpful contributions to the site.

Question is: How do we get it in their heads to use the search function? I've just seen Mafia_Boy explode in ericdemoryGT's face - but he doesn't know what he's doing wrong.

I suggest an automated PM message (in a friendly manner - to seem more personal) that can be sent to a new member when their first thread is locked.
I think that this would reach these new users better than the acceptance of the AUP on sign up.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Suggestions?

80Y

P.S Oh, and if this has already been mentioned before - I'll look like THE biggest idiot ever to grace these boards. I'll give you 24hrs to laugh at me.
 
yeah, sorry dude, it's nothing against you, but we always get people like you who come in making threads that have been made before. We really want you to stay, but at the rate your going, you may get banned if you make too many more threads that have been done before, when we really want to to stay 👍. Another guy was (as said above) a user called rampresin - but he got banned because he didn't get it into his head that he didn't have to make a new thread for a question that could have been answered if he used the search button.

When I say something's got to be done, I don't mean we've got to throw you out because you're posting useless threads - I'm saying that we have got to show you in a better way to adhere to the AUP and not make 2 billion thread from the get go (as some previous new users have done) 👍.
 
If you would like to know, I am 13 years old, and Mafia Boy is helping me out. Talk to him about me.
 
I'm not questioning your age or intelligence, I'm saying that the Moderators/admin of this site should do better to tell new users like you the rules and such on this forum - so's to prevent new users like you from being banned for doing things you didn't know was wrong.

It's great that Mafia_Boy is helping you, but I'm saying that if we had an effective system to tell new users what/what not to do, then everyday users such as myself and Mafia_Boy needn't have to keep on telling every new user (you'd be suprised how many there have been) how to use the search bar.

If you don't understand - this is for your benefit - we want to keep you here without getting banned 👍
 
The mods are not going to be there always though the vets will somehow remind newcomers about stickies and the search bar.
 
80Y 2C2
Question is: How do we get it in their heads to use the search function?
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This is an extremely difficult question to answer without placing severe restrictions on the activity of new users, and it's something the community struggles with on a large scale during the release of each Gran Turismo game (you ain't seen nothing, yet ;)). Unfortunately, I have tried many techniques over the past decade, but can't eliminate what you summed up best, yourself:

While they do make useless threads, and show complete disregard for the search function or other user's intelligence (eg ericdemoryGT asking us what we liked about the music more than 4 YEARS after the thing was released), I feel that they have a potential to make helpful contributions to the site.
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Instead of fighting a losing battle, I have found it more effective to encourage regular members to treat new users with kindness and respect, while counting on the experienced moderation staff to quietly keep posts and threads organized. As part of the slow transition to GTPX that I've hinted at, you will also very soon find an "introductions" forum in which new users can "safely" and naturally acclimate themselves. That would, of course, be a great place to more explicitly outline the community's high expectations of behavior - as long as they read it. :p
 
Jordan
This is an extremely difficult question to answer without placing severe restrictions on the activity of new users, and it's something the community struggles with on a large scale during the release of each Gran Turismo game (you ain't seen nothing, yet ;)). Unfortunately, I have tried many techniques over the past decade, but can't eliminate what you summed up best, yourself:

Instead of fighting a losing battle, I have found it more effective to encourage regular members to treat new users with kindness and respect, while counting on the experienced moderation staff to quietly keep posts and threads organized. As part of the slow transition to GTPX that I've hinted at, you will also very soon find an "introductions" forum in which new users can "safely" and naturally acclimate themselves. That would, of course, be a great place to more explicitly outline the community's high expectations of behavior - as long as they read it. :p
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Good one 👍

I've just remembered something. When I was a new user, I had to wait for my posts to be approved before they were posted (or at least thats how I remember it). Does that still happen?, and do the threads get checked in a similar way?
 
Yep, that system is still in place.
 
So wouldn't the threads simply not be published if they're blatantly replicating a previous thread? Or are these only checked to see if they are in the right language and contain no profanities?
 
80Y 2C2
So wouldn't the threads simply not be published if they're blatantly replicating a previous thread?
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No, because then there is no education and lots of confusion ("why didn't my thread show up??!"). See how Duke addressed ericdemoryGT's first thread here as an example.
 
Hey, do you ever have problems playing GT4 on your PS2. Like, does it ever not play at all?
 
eric, this is what they are all on about...

When you post in a thread, the post must be related to the first post or any other post in the thread regarding the topic. Asking questions in the inappropriate thread isnt what is supposed to happen, instead go to the GT4 Sub-Forum and post your question there.

Suggestion before you do that though, use the search function, type in a somewhat descriptive phrase in the box and see what comes up, make the search terms better if you need. Once you have searched for threads and posts etc, and no thread is suited to your needs, THAT is when you post a new thread.
 
One thing that could be implemented - I'm not sure of the difficulty - Would be to augment the AUP with checkboxes at the important points, and specific instructions that would ensure they've been read and followed before continuing.

One such example may be to add half a dozen checks through the AUP at important points, with an instruction near the end to un-check all but one, and to not allow the AUP to be accepted until filled out correctly.
This is a similar concept to the exam whose instructions state to answer only the last question... If you read and follow direction, you will pass and continue. If you don't read, you fail.
 
ericdemoryGT
If you would like to know, I am 13 years old, and Mafia Boy is helping me out. Talk to him about me.
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I'm sorry, but how the hell did I come into it?! I NEVER said I was helping you, I just gave you that "posting & you" vid to watch to give you an idea of how forums like this one work. That's it. :cool:

Duke was very kind to you as a matter of fact and the fact you ignored his advice makes members like myself look at new members such as yourself in a different, not as attractive light. Smallhorses was a little bit more blunt, and as I'm a member and not a mod (therefore not held to as high a standard), I can be as blunt to you as possible while being within AUP, hence why I say things the way I do. ;)
 
I already did n4ke, in the GT4 forum area before Smallhorses closed one of this particular newbies many threads. ;) He even posted in my profile area that he watched it. :cool:
 
yep....does seem terribly ironic, and I shall hang my head in shame.

Oh...and now theres only 22.5 hours to go:)



:lol:

In fairness though, I spent a good half hour trying to find one - which isn't too far away from what these threads are about.
 
80Y 2C2
yep....does seem terribly ironic, and I shall hang my head in shame.

Oh...and now theres only 22.5 hours to go:)



:lol:

In fairness though, I spent a good half hour trying to find one - which isn't too far away from what these threads are about.
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And that's the whole problem. Some of the veteran posters here are all too quick to chant the mantra 'use the search function' but in many cases, that's like looking through a haystack for a needle.

I just did a quick search for the term 'starting threads' and I got 32 pages of results! You admitted yourself to spending half an hour searching. Some people just don't have that kind of time.

If you think you've seen a similar thread before, can't you just point them in the right direction (i.e. link to the existing thread) and leave it at that?
 
I see where you going with it.

But I s'spose we could ask them to be reasonable. Ok - SOMEONE may have made a thread like this (and, evidently they did), but it's not like coming on the forum, and instantly asking if there will be damage in GT5. Let's be reasonable. The people that we are trying to change are those people who come on and it's like "When's GT5?", "Will it have damage?" "Gamestop has a release date on their website!", "I want it NOW....waaaaa". This is THE biggest GT forum on the net, so the chances of these things being discussed are stupendous. It's these things that we need to talk about with the new users. If it's new news, then its fine (2 people usually post similar threads at the same time about a new piece of news), but usually it isn't.

Also......no Lols PureAwesomness? C'moooonn - you know you want to :lol:.
 
What about restricting the ability to make threads until a certain time has passed? At least then they'd need to be here a little while and might get the jist of things before they can start posting threads about whether or not their favourite car will be in GT5....





:lol: @ Nibbers, within 24hr time limit.:D
 
It's a difficult thing to handle, because when you use search, it looks for the things you ask it to look for. It's not like saying to a mate "you got any advice on starting threads for me?". If you put in "starting threads", you get all posts (or threads) with the words "starting threads" in them.

The art of the internet at the end of the noughties is in crafting your searches. Any old idiot can hit Google, but can they make it give them the hits they want?

A mature forum like GTP is like any established social group. New members can come in, but they need to be aware of the rules of the group. It's very unlikely that you'd burst in on a circle of people at a party and blurt out the first thing that came into your head, and so it is with internet forums.

Sadly, many of the people who join are not as socially adept, and they register because they have something they absolutely must say right now. When it's already been said a hundred times before, the community is likely to groan a weary groan.

GTP is not about an individual, their keyboard and their browser. It's much more than that, and new members would do to remember that before they go typing in "I can haz GT5 releez date lolololol11111"
 
then what about a reality check PM? Something that says "you got something to say? Chances are it already has been".
 
[radicallucasmodeon]What if, after people click on the AUP to be allowed as members, they are given a poll to see if they understand what they should have read?[radicallucasmodeoff]
 

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